I was listening to NPR while cooking dinner (as is my wont) and was getting really anxious about the economy and the future. But then I looked around me and saw many things to be thankful for. I love my kitchen, it's the heart of my house. And while I'd really like a shiny stainless-steel mandoline, I have everything I need to make really good, wholesome food for myself and those I love. Here are some of my favorite kitchen things, and why I love them:
- Meyer's anodized aluminum pots and pans -- I bought these 19 years ago at JC Penney for $100. I've used them nearly every day for those 19 years and hope to get many many more years out of them. I bought them because I couldn't afford Calphalon, and quickly discovered I love them much better than the little Calphalon sauce pan I already had.
- $5.00 sink -- I got this at the local salvage place (faucet included). It's a drop-in, nice and wide, and it looks really cute and retro.
- $$$$$$ cabinets -- I splurged and got really fancy Italian kitchen cabinets (from Italy!). But I own them, and I love them.
- Cheap-o granite counter top -- The handyman who put my kitchen in agreed to my plan of using inexpensive Home Depot granite tiles grouted very close together to mimic a solid granite counter top. It cost around $100.00
- Collection of decorative serving bowls -- some of these were my late mother's, some I've picked up at thrift stores over the year, one I got from a friend for Christmas. They make me happy because they are pretty, and I love to make food for people in these nice pretty things.
- Table runner -- I bought this very cute table runner at Savers for about $2.00 five years ago. It was clearly hand-made from a scrap of fabric, but it's really sturdy and has a very harmnious design.
- Orange couch (aka dog's throne) -- A really charming orange settee that I picked up at a flea market for $30.00 a few years ago. Any time people who are into antiques or home design see this, they remark on how elegant it is. My dog, quite the aesthete apparently, also loves it and hops up on it and snuggles in a corner and looks at me longingly while I make dinner.
So, while I still worry about keeping my business afloat and earning enough to heat my lovely house, I can at least go down to the kitchen, invite some friends over, and cook under the dog's supervision. These are a few of my favorite things!
